ACCIDENTAL DETONATION OF A CHEMICAL WARHEAD BY LAO SOLDIERS; REPORTED LARGE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AMONG LAO AND VIETNAMESE TROOPS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06157013
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432
• Publication Date: October 16, 1987

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TOT: 162041Z OCT 87
CONTRO
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162a11 1Z
TO: DI , STATE//FOR INR, DIA, TREASURY DEPT,
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, ZEN/CIA OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS,
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI, CDRWESTCOM FT SHAFTER HI, COMIPAC HONOLULU HI,
CINCPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI, CINCPACAF HICKAM AFB HI, FOSIF/WESTPAC,
COMSEVENTHFLT.
SERIAL:
BODY
PASS:
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASSSECRET--WNINTEL--NOFORN--NOCONTRACT
DIST: 16 OCTOBER 1987
COUNTRY: LAOS/VIETNAM
SUBJ: ACCIDENTAL DETONATION OF A CHEMICAL WARHEAD BY
LAO SOLDIERS; REPORTED LARGE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES
AMONG LAO AND VIETNAMESE TROOPS
DOI:
SOURCE:
TEXT:
NOFORN
A WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM OF THE LAO
ST
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PEOPLE'S ARMY (LPA) INSPECTED SOME AMMUNITION STORED IN OUTHOUMPHONG
DISTRICT, giV-ANNAKBETIPROVINCE, AND FOUND AN OLD STOCKPILE OF SEVEN
OR EIGHT B-41 ROCKET SHELLS.. THE TEAM MARKED THE SHELLS FOR
DESTRUCTI* APPARENTLY WITHOUT REALIZING THAT THE ROUNDS WERE ARMED
WITH CHEMICAL WARHEADS. AFTER THE TEAM DEPARTED, AN UNKNOWN NUMBER
OF LPA SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE AMMUNITION STORAGE SITE ATTEMPTED TO
EXTRACT THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE FROM ONE OF THE SHELLS TO USE FOR
FISHING, WHEN THE ROUND ACCIDENTALLY EXPLODED. THE INCIDENT
REPORTEDLY CAUSED THE DEATH OF ABOUT 150 LPA AND PEOPLE'S ARMY OF
VIETNAM SOLDIERS AND 50 CIVILIANS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. 7WENTY
SOVIEt ADVISORS ARRIVED LATER TO BEGIN TO DECONTAMINATE THE AFFECTED
AREA. COMMENT: NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED AS TO WHETHER THE
CASUALTIES WERE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXPLOSION OR TO THE CHEMICAL
CONTAINED IN THE SHELLS.)
ADMIN
WARNING: REPORT CLASSSECRET--WARNING NOTICE--INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED--NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS--NOT
RELEASABLE TO CONTRACTORS/CONSULTANTS.
ALL PORTIONS
L.AHMI LLASSIFiCATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUMENT.>
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